George Maljevac

ACCIDENT NO. 47 — August 8, 1910 – George Malovitch, No. 6 Shaft, Hecla Branch, C. & H.

George Malovitch, Austrian timberman, met his death in No. 6 Hecla Shaft, at the 57th level.

An inquest over his body was held and the following witnesses examined:

Paul Mehilich: "Worked in same gang with deceased. We were taking out a guard rail when the timber car got off the track up above, when a round piece of timber came down. We all tried to get out of the way when we heard something coming but these two got hit. One had his leg broken and George was killed.”

W. E. Daniel: “I am mining captain at Hecla Branch of Calumet and Hecla Mine. I was at the 57th level at the time of the accident to Malovich. These men were at the 57th level changing a guide or guard rail for the skip and I was standing along side right on the level, I had one foot in the shaft and the other in the level. Mihelich was next to me and the others were just a little distance away, not more than fifteen feet between me and the last man. They had the lag screws all taken out and the piece was up in the level just ready to turn ends. All at once we heard something coming down through the shaft. I called to Paul to get out of the way and got out myself. Whether the other men heard me call or not I cannot say. We made an examination of the place where the car left the track and where it stopped, but could find no reason for its jumping off. I examined the roller fixers but they could find no reason and said there was nothing wrong so far as they knew. There were three pieces on the car and one stayed up in the shaft at the 42nd level right across the level; the other piece got ahead of the car and came down the shaft. It was broken when it passed through where we were. It was a 20 foot piece in the first place but was broken in pieces. The car jumped the track at the 32nd level and stopped at the 44th. The log got out at the 42nd level. When the watchman up over noticed the car off the track he rang one bell. It seems that George could not have gotten out of the way quick enough.”

Verdict: "We find, that the said George Malovitch came to his death on the 8th day of August, 1910, at the 57th level No. 6 shaft of Hecla Branch of Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, by being struck by a falling piece of timber while being employed in the shaft."